title: [In silico identification of molecular mimicry between T-cell epitopes of Neisseria meningitidis B and the human proteome].
abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the T-cell epitopes of four of the most frequent antigenic proteins of the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis B, and to identify the most relevant sites for molecular mimicry with T-cell epitopes in humans. In order to do so, an in silico study -a type of study that uses bioinformatic tools- was carried out using SWISS-PROT/TrEMBL, SYFPEITHI and FASTA databases, which helped to determine the protein sequences, CD4 and CD8 T-cell epitope prediction, as well as the molecular mimicry with humans, respectively. Molecular similarity was found in several human proteins present in different organs and tissues such as: liver, skin and epithelial tissues, brain, lymphatic system and testicles. Of these, those found in testicles were more similar, showing the highest frequency of mimetic sequences. This finding shed light on the success of N. meningitidis B to colonize human tissues and the failure of certain vaccines against this bacterium, and it even helps to explain possible autoimmune reactions associated with the infection or vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Toxicología y Biomedicina, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batista-Duharte
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Téllez
authors.forename: Maybia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamayo
authors.forename: Deivys
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Portuondo
authors.forename: Osmir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000276:immunology*; D020543:Proteome
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D020543:Proteome